BuzzSugar

Buzz In: How Many Hours of TV Do You Watch Per Day?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

When I asked my co-workers to guess how many hours of TV the average American watches per day, most guessed in the 2-3 range. I have to admit - I thought I watched a lot more TV than the average bear, but as it turns out, the rest of the country is just as glued to the tube as I am. According to a recent report on Nielson ratings, the average American watches 4 hours and 49 minutes a day!

Maybe it's just me, but this sounds like a lot. 'Fess up - how many hours of TV do you usually watch per day?

Link Time! Simon Baker Scores Surfer Role

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:30:40 -0800

Simon Baker attached to surfing drama Breath - Coming Soon
Eddie Murphy to star in R-rated animal comedy The Misadventures of Fluffy - Movieline
Anvil! The Story of Anvil and Capitalism: A Love Story both left off of Oscar documentary shortlist - Cinematical
Get a look at next week's annual Slapsgiving on How I Met Your Mother - PopWatch
All Songs Considered: The 50 most important recordings of the decade - NPR
Susan Boyle breaks Amazon's record for global CD pre-orders - Lifeline Live
Could Lost's Nestor Carbonell be Khan in the Star Trek sequel? - Moviefone
True Blood's Stephen Moyer signs on for thriller The Caller - MTV Movies Blog
Remember Chandler's awkward relationship with Thanksgiving? Share your own stories with Très - TrèsSugar
Interpol is prepping an album for next year - Pitchfork

An Open Letter to Breaking Dawn's Screenwriter

Buzz Community — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

This post comes from the group The Books of Twilight from member Audreystar.

Dear Ms. Rosenberg,

First let me say that I thought you did an impeccable job at screenwriting Twilight from Stephenie Meyer's novel. From what I can see you did a great job on New Moon as well. I can only assume that Eclipse will be no different. You have proven yourself a competent and talented screenwriter. Hell, you write episodes of Dexter for goodness sake! Your ability is not in question.

I am here to discuss Breaking Dawn. This will be the ultimate test of your career. If you can manage to pull a workable movie out of that piece of literature you should (hands down) win the Academy Award in screenwriting. Everyone seems to be wondering who will be chosen to direct Breaking Dawn because they believe that is (ultimately) the person who will sink or swim in making a film work on the last book. I beg to differ. This all lies with you and that is quite a big burden to bear. The world is on your shoulders. The movie will make a ton of money so Summit can't be THAT concerned with the script. But I know you aren't a writer to please all the people who will watch anything with Robert Pattinson in it. You actually care about putting out quality work.

To read the rest of the letter (WARNING: Breaking Dawn spoilers ahead!), just .

So here are my questions. How are you honestly going to manage to write the birth scene and still maintain a PG-13 rating? How are you going to write for Renesmee and her not look like a freak of nature? Regarding Renesmee, the hardest challenge will be for the casting directors/CGI geniuses. They have a daunting and hard and impossible job. The honeymoon scene is what everyone will be flocking to the cinema to see (the rabid fans I mean) and I am sure Mrs. Prude Meyer will be ALL OVER the writing and filming of that. Look I know she didn't write the books for a mature audience and is trying to keep it morally sound. But this is the last movie and we have to have more than just a fade to black. But I know it won't happen because SM wouldn't even let the first kiss scene stay the way Catherine had it (i.e., steamy). I find it rather hypocritical that SM has an issue with a tasteful sex scene however has ZERO problem with blood and gore which Breaking Dawn the novel is filled to the brim with. You want to see Edward and Bella consummate their relationship. . . sorry, you aren't gonna get it. But if you are excited to see Edward rip Bella's belly open with his sharp vampire teeth, well you are in luck.

And don't even get me started on how you are going to work out the awful anti-climatic ending. This is going to be the last film in the series and as a talented screenwriter you know you can't end it that way. Sure, if this were an indie film you could get away with it. But, it isn't.

So in conclusion, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers while dealing with this huge predicament and the test of your career. You will deserve a Pulitzer if you can pull this off.

Best regards,
Audreystar

(Please note: I have no clue if she has even been signed as the screenwriter for the fourth film).

There's lots of fun stuff going on in our community - join it, check it out, share your stories and posts in the great groups and maybe we'll feature them here on BuzzSugar!

Do You Still Follow TV Shows When They Switch Networks?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:30:44 -0800

It's official: Southland is saved! TNT issued a press release this morning announcing that the cable network is resuscitating the cancelled NBC cop drama starting in January.

While this is obviously good news for Benjamin McKenzie fans, I'm still approaching it with moderate skepticism. The series may be alive and kicking, but if the numbers from other swapped shows are any indication, Southland may be in for a struggle. Take, Project Runway: After moving from Bravo to Lifetime, it took off like ratings gangbusters, but has since faced a decline. Or there's my favorite old-school example: Roswell. It used to air on the WB (in its pre-CW days), but after it failed there, it got bounced around to UPN - where it was cancelled again.

Obviously some viewers drop off when a show changes channels, but what about you - do you still follow TV shows when they go under a new network? Or do you lose interest?

Photos courtesy of NBC

Fall TV Scorecard: What's In, What's Out, and What's in Danger

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:30:30 -0700

It's a tough life for a freshman TV series, and every Fall some new shows have to get cut - but on the bright side, others are given a vote of confidence and picked up for a full season. We're at the end of October now, and most of the networks have made their big decisions, so here's a rundown on what shows are in, out, or balancing on the edge.

What's In
At NBC, Parks and Recreation, Community, and Mercy have all been picked up for full seasons, as have CBS shows The Good Wife and NCIS: Los Angeles and ABC's The Middle, Cougar Town, FlashForward, and Modern Family.

Over on The CW, ratings-winner The Vampire Diaries has been given an entire season. Fox's newbies have fared very well, with pop culture phenomenon Glee having gotten an early pickup, while The Cleveland Show got a full season before it premiered, and has already been granted a second season. On HBO, Bored to Death has gotten a second as well.

But not everyone has been so lucky; to see which shows have been canceled and what's in danger, just read more.

What's Out

Despite backing from Ashton Kutcher, The Beautiful Life got axed by The CW after just two episodes, and A&E's Benjamin Bratt vehicle The Cleaner is out too. But it's not all bleak news; though NBC oversaw Southland's surprise cancellation, the show may be getting a second chance from TNT.

Danger Zone

These newer shows haven't been canceled, but that's no guarantee of safety. Melrose Place did get picked up for more episodes - but only an 18-ep season (sister show The Vampire Diaries got 22). Dollhouse is being benched for all-important November sweeps, leaving its fate unclear. And struggling shows The Forgotten, Accidentally on Purpose, and Hank haven't been picked up or axed yet, but the lack of news isn't promising.

It's interesting seeing the season's hits and misses - you guys had some correct predictions for pickups and cancellations, but are you surprised by anything overall?

Photos courtesy of Fox and The CW

Cirque du Freak: An Unnecessary Addition to Vampire Entertainment

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:09 -0700

With Halloween just around the corner, October is the perfect time for movie studios to unleash their creepiest films, since we're all in the mood for a good scare. Combine with that the insatiable desire for vampire entertainment, and you've got Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant; a tween fantasy movie that plays out like R.L. Stein's Goosebumps novels on the big screen - but not nearly as scary.

Based on the book series by Darren Shan, Cirque du Freak is the story of Darren (Chris Massoglia), your typical 16-year-old boy trying to quell his high school boredom. Dubbed "Mr. Perfect" by his mischievous best friend Steve, Darren follows the rules, has plenty of friends, and does whatever his parents tell him to do - that is, unless Steve can convince him otherwise. The boys pick up a flyer for the Cirque du Freak and decide to check it out.

That's just the beginning though, so to see what I thought of the film, just read more.

Things go awry when Darren finds himself tangled up in the world behind the Cirque, particularly that of Larten Crepsley, a crotchety vampire who couldn't be bothered with a teenager. When Darren gets himself into a sticky situation, the only way he can bail himself out is by selling his soul to Crepsley, becoming his half-vampire assistant.

If you thought sorting out all the vampire lore in Twilight and True Blood was confusing, get ready for the most convoluted yet. In this story, a war is brewing between two breeds: the Vampanese represent the blood-suckers that are all for killing their prey, while the run-of-the mill vamps prefer to sedate, feed, and then letting their victims return to regular life. As a half-vampire who's reluctant to lose what little human qualities he has left, Darren obviously joins Larten Crepsley's team, while his best friend Steve joins the evil Vampanese.

As for the actual Cirque du Freak, the group of misfits and outcasts are more X-Men and less Carnivale. The crew includes unusual children who were abandoned by their parents (like "Snake Boy" and "Monkey Girl"), along with a few other vaudeville acts like the Bearded Lady (Salma Hayek) and a woman who can regenerate her limbs (Jane Krakowski). Some are friendly, others are surly, but the cirque in itself is more campy than scary; little hideout is basically an island of misfit toys.

The film isn't boring, but it's not exactly packed with pizazz either. Director Paul Weitz was sure to stay on the safer side of the movie's PG-13 rating, rarely pushing the envelope on what could have been a much creepier film. John C. Reilly is always reliable for a good performance, and he has some great comedic timing as the voice of brutal honesty to Darren's naivete. Massoglia gives decent performance for a newbie, and even reminded me of a young Emile Hirsch at times. That said, the movie is also packed with confusing subplots and some truly corny dialogue that evoked collective groans from the audience.

If you're looking for a fun movie to get you into the Halloween spirit, this might do the trick. Just make sure you're in a tween state of mind.

Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures

Melrose Place Getting a Makeover - Ashlee Simpson Is Out!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:30:39 -0700

Just two months after Melrose Place's debut comes the news that the producers are looking to make over the low-rated series - which means that both Ashlee Simpson and Colin Egglesfield are out.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, executive producers Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin reveal that Simpson was always supposed to leave after episode 12. Quiet-but-psycho Violet and recovering alcoholic Auggie will depart with the Sydney murder mystery (which must mean that one of them is definitely the murderer, right?) in January. The hope is to make the show lighter and more fun after the homicide is wrapped up, and though they're losing two characters, several new ones will show up, including Heather Locklear's Amanda Woodward and a new doctor in the complex.

What do you think of this news? Had Violet and Auggie outstayed their welcome at 4616 Melrose Ave.? Do you think these improvements can save the show?

Photo courtesy of The CW

Buzz In: Who Should Host the 2010 Oscars?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:30:44 -0700

Halloween is in full bloom, and you know what that means: the holiday and award seasons are just around the corner. In the next two months, we'll be hearing lots of Oscar buzz as the year's final movies come down the pike, but the films won't be the only stars of the show.

There have already been whispers about who should host the upcoming show - Hugh Jackman boosted the ratings last year, so should he get invited back? Would you rather see a revival of a different past emcee, like Billy Crystal or Jon Stewart, or would you prefer some fresh blood? Personally I wouldn't mind seeing Neil Patrick Harris take a whack at it after doing such a great job with the Emmys, but I'd welcome Jackman back as well. What say you?

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:30:02 -0700

Will Ferrell will star in indie comedy Everything Must Go - Zap2it
Ugly Betty is back tonight! - TV.com
Ian Somerhalder will star in romantic gothic fairy tale Cradlewood - The Wrap
The Big Chill: where are they now? - Moviefone
Last night's 30 Rock is even more meta thanks to low ratings - Vulture
Hilarious: old folks review MGMT's video for "Kids" - Stereogum
Penelope Cruz is going to make a cameo in the Sex and the City sequel - Cinematical
The Top 20 Celebrity Twilight fans - PopSugar
Telling the difference between Where the Wild Things Are and Wild Things - MTV Movies Blog

What's Your Take on Gossip Girl's Upcoming Threesome?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:28:54 -0700

I'm just gonna come out and say it: I think Gossip Girl has been missing the mark so far in season three. A lot of shows struggle with the post-high-school transition, and GG is having trouble placing many of its characters in a college environment (hello, Blair Waldorf).

That's not to say the writers aren't trying everything - this week Hilary Duff and Tyra Banks made appearances, and apparently Lady Gaga will also make a cameo later this season. The juiciest spoiler of all is that we can expect to see a threesome on the Nov. 9 episode - though the participants are still a mystery.

So what do you think of this news? Is a threesome story outrageous? Totally dated? Clearly a desperate ratings ploy? And what are your predictions for the parties involved?

For more Gossip Girl goodness, check out the XOXO Gossip Girl group in the community!

Photo courtesy of The CW